Rolling conductor support

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a rolling conductor support useful in supporting, guiding and protecting electrical, hydraulic, coolant and the like conductors extending between parts of machines which move relative to one another on guides or tracks. The conductor support comprises a plurality of parallel chains connected in laterally spaced relation by conductor-supporting bridges to which the conductors are fastened by clips or retainer loops. The chains are composed of links pivotally connected at overlapping contiguous ends, with an arcuate slot in one end of each link receiving a stop pin in the overlapping contiguous end of the next link, with the length of the slots determining the bending radius of the chains. The disclosure also encompasses two or more conductor supports arranged in stacked relation with means for supporting one on top of the other in spaced-apart relation. Also disclosed is a flexible, sheetlike member extending between the chains to form a protective covering for the conductors, with retention bars overlying the cover and releasably engaged with the chain links. There is further disclosed a support including cross members extending between the chains forming a platform on which an operator may stand, with the chain links formed with laterally extending flanges to which the cross members are connected.



1. A rolling conductor support comprising: a plurality of chainsconnected together in laterally spaced-apart relation by conductorcarrying means extending therebetween, each chain including a successionof links having contiguous overlapping pivotally connected end portions,characterized in that the pivotal connection includes a pair of spacedpivot parts extending laterally between and connecting together theoverlapping end portions, at least one of said pivot parts providing afulcrum for pivotal movement between the links, at least one of theoverlapping end portions having a slot of determined arcuate lengthmeasured in relation to said fulcrum, and the other pivot partinterfitting in said slot and fixed to the other overlapping end portionand movable in the slot through the arcuate length thereof to limitpivotal movement between the links.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1further characterized in that a second slot is provided in one of saidoverlapping end portions of determined arcuate length measured inrelation to said other pivot part, and said pivot part providing thefulcrum is fixed in relation to one of the overlapping ends andinterfits in the last-mentioned slot for movement through the arcuatelength thereof, whereby successive links fulcrum about both pivot partsand are limited in pivotal movement by said slots.
 3. The inventiondefined in claim 1 characterized in that opposite ends of each link arelaterally offset in opposite directions by substantially the thicknessof the link.
 4. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein the links ofeach chain are identical and the plurality of chains are identical. 5.The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said slot isarcuately shaped on a radius whose center coincides with the pivot partcomprising said fulcrum, and said slot is spaced longitudinally alongthe link from such pivot part.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1characterized in that said pivot part which interfits in said slot isprovided with a radially extending retaining portion overlying andcompletely covering and concealing the slot.
 7. The invention defined inclaim 1 characterized in that laterally projecting chain-supportingroller means are provided coaxially aligned with and secured to thepivotal connection between successive links for riding supporting tracksalong which the conductor support is rolled out.
 8. The inventiondefined in claim 1 further characterized in that said pivot partproviding the fulcrum is fixed in relation to both overlapping endportions.
 9. The invention defined by claim 8 wherein the links of onechain are allochiral with the links of another chain.
 10. The inventiondefined in claim 1 characterized in that said conductor-carrying meanscomprises a plurality of conductor-supporting bridges connected atopposite ends to said pivot parts of the chains.
 11. The inventiondefined in claim 10 characterized in that opposite ends of eachconductor supporting bridge includes an upstanding flange floatinglyconnected to said pivot parts allowing relative displacement of thebridges and chains.
 12. The invention defined in claim 1 furthercharacterized in that a pair of thin flexible protective sheet membersextend in spaced substantially parallel relation between said chainswith the conductors and conductor-carrying means interposedtherebetween, and sheet-retaining means coupled to the chain links formaintaining the sheets in place with respect to said support.
 13. Theinvention defined in claim 12 further characterized in that said supportexhibits portions for abutting said sheet members along oppositemarginal edges thereof to maintain said sheets in spaced relation withrespect to the conductors carried by said carrying means.
 14. Theinvention defined in claim 12 further characterized in that at leastsome of said links have apertures adjacent the longitudinally extendingmarginal edges thereof, and strap means extending laterally across saidsheets secured at opposite ends within said apertures to maintain thesheets within the said marginal edges of the chain links.
 15. Theinvention defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidconductor-carrying means comprises a plurality of conductor-supportingbridges spaced apart along the chains and connected at opposite ends tosaid chains and upon which conductors extending along between the chainsare supported, and conductor-retaining means are provided overlying theconductors and coupled to said support.
 16. The invention defined inclaim 15 characterized in at each bridge exhibits a plurality of closelyspaced apertures extending therethrough to bracket each cOnductor on thebridge, and said conductor-retaining means comprises a retainer loopembracing each conductor and having end portions extending through andanchored in the apertures bracketing the conductor.
 17. The inventiondefined in claim 16 characterized in that the apertures are arranged ina plurality of staggered rows extending longitudinally across eachbridge.
 18. The invention defined in claim 16 characterized in that saidretainer loop comprises a strap having resilient catch means allowingadjustable retention in a bridge aperture through which receivedcomprising a plurality of tabs extending angularly of the strap inlongitudinally spaced relation throughout at least one end portion ofthe strap and facing in a direction to resist withdrawal of the endportion from an aperture in the bridge.
 19. The invention defined inclaim 18 characterized by the tabs being located in longitudinallyspaced relation at opposite end portions of the strap, with the tabs inone end portion being more closely spaced than the tabs of the oppositeend portion.
 20. The invention defined in claim 18 characterized in thatsaid tabs extend from opposite longitudinal marginal edges of the strapand within the plane of the strap for engagement with opposite marginaledge portions of the bridge apertures.
 21. A rolling conductor supportadapted to be secured between relatively horizontally moving machineelements with one span of the support moving relative to and spacedvertically from another span and rolling around a bend connecting thespans, characterized by the provision of means for supporting the upperspan upon the lower span while spaced vertically above the lower spancomprising a vertically extending spacer connected to and carried by thesupport and projecting from one span thereof toward the opposite spanand movable with the support around the bend connecting the spans, saidspacer provided with a part at its distal end for riding the oppositespan and transmitting the load therebetween.
 22. The invention asdefined in claim 21 characterized in that said spacer comprises aV-shaped bracket connected at the ends of the V-arms to opposite edgesof the support in one span thereof with the apex of the V-arms toopposite edges of the support in one span thereof with the apex of the Vprovided with a roller for engaging and riding the support in theopposite span thereof.
 23. A rolling conductor support system,comprising, in combination: a plurality of chains connected together inlaterally spaced-apart parallel relation by a plurality of laterallyextending bridges spaced apart along the length of the chains, eachchain including a succession of identical links having contiguous endportions arranged in overlapping relation, a pivot pin pivotallyconnecting together the overlapping contiguous ends of successive links,each link having at one end an arcuate slot spaced from the pivot pin,the end of the next successive link overlapping said one end having apart projecting into the slot for limiting relative pivoting between thelinks, each bridge having opposite end portions secured to the pivot pinand to said projecting part of confronting links of the chains, at leastone conductor extending along the length of the chains and lying on thebridges, and means embracing the conductor at each bridge and secured toeach bridge retaining the conductor on the bridges.
 24. A rollingconductor support system comprising, in combination: at least twoconductor supports stacked in parallel spaced-apart relation, eachsupport including a plurality of chains connected together in laterallyspaced relation by conductor-carrying means extending laterallytherebetween, each chain having a succession of links with overlappingend portions pivotally connected together for pivotal movement, one ofsaid supports having means for maintaining the supports in stackedparallel spaced-apart relation including spacers connected to said chainlinks at intervals therealoNg, each spacer having a first portionadapted to abut an adjacent chain for maintaining the supports spacedapart and second portion overlying the adjacent chain for maintainingthe supports in laterally aligned parallel relation.
 25. The inventiondefined in claim 24 characterized in that each spacer member comprisesopposite end portions offset from each other and joined together by atransverse intermediate portion, one end portion secured to the innersurface of a chain link on one support and the other end portionoverlying the outer surface of a chain link on another support, formaintaining the supports in laterally parallel alignment, and saidintermediate portion adapted to abut the marginal edge of a chain linkof the other support to maintain the supports in spaced-apart relation.26. A rolling support system, comprising a plurality of chains extendingin laterally spaced-apart parallel relation, each chain including asuccession of links having contiguous end portions arranged inoverlapping relation, a pivot pin pivotally connecting together theoverlapping ends of adjacent links, each link having adjacent one end anarcuate slot spaced from the pivot pin with the end of the next adjacentlink overlapping the said one end having a part projecting into the slotfor limiting relative pivotal movement of the links, at least some ofsaid links having integral marginal flange means extending perpendicularto the plane of the link, and a plurality of platform members extendinglaterally across the chains and having opposite end portions connectedto said flange means.
 27. The invention as defined in claim 26characterized in that said platform members are each of a width lessthan the length of said links and each member extends between and isconnected at its opposite ends to links of said chains in laterallyaligned confronting relation.
 28. The invention as defined in claim 26characterized in that a plurality of bridge members extend between saidchains in spaced apart relation and substantially parallel to and spacedfrom said platform members, each bridge member coupled at its oppositeends to said pivot pins and said projecting part respectively on saidlinks, and retainer loops having end portions releasably engageable inthe bridge members for retaining a conductor on the members.